Michael of Synnada was an 8th-century metropolitan bishop and diplomat from Phrygia who served the Byzantine Empire. Influenced by Patriarch Tarasios, he rose to his ecclesiastical position and participated in the Second Council of Nicaea. He played a significant role in international relations, acting as an envoy to both Charlemagne and the Abbasid caliph Harun al-Rashid to negotiate peace treaties. Due to his opposition to iconoclasm under Emperor Leo V, he was eventually exiled, where he died in 826.
Life and diplomacy
After being tonsured by Tarasios, Michael served as the bishop of Synnada. He was a key negotiator for the Byzantine state, leading several embassies to the court of Charlemagne to maintain peace. He also represented his empire during the Abbasid invasions of Asia Minor. His diplomatic travels included a stop in Rome, where he delivered official documents to Pope Leo III.
Exile and veneration
Michael's refusal to support the reintroduction of iconoclasm led to his arrest by Emperor Leo V. He spent his final years in exile in Eudokias, passing away in May 826. He is recognized as a saint in the Catholic and Orthodox traditions. Devotees often invoke his name to seek protection for crops against various pests.